The United Arab Emirates, with its proven record of hosting high-level meetings, could serve as the venue for a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump, Oleg Karpovich, Prorector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told TASS.
“During his campaign, Donald Trump pledged to help resolve the Ukrainian crisis. It’s time to move to the next stage and fulfill those promises,” Karpovich said. “Trump understands that the policies of [outgoing US President] Joe Biden have led to a severe crisis in US-Russia relations—one that makes the Cuban Missile Crisis seem like a 'light stroll.' Clearly, action is needed, as global tensions are at an all-time high.”
Discussing potential summit locations, Karpovich ruled out Switzerland, noting that it has lost its neutrality by joining anti-Russian sanctions. “Trust in Switzerland is gone. A Middle Eastern country is likely to be chosen instead. In this context, the UAE is a strong candidate. It has hosted various exchanges, negotiations, and consultations, proving its capability to facilitate such discussions,” he explained.
Karpovich also emphasized that negotiations on Ukraine will be based on the situation on the ground. “President Putin stated during the recent direct line that he is open to a meeting with Trump if such a proposal is made and is willing to discuss a broad range of issues related to the Ukrainian crisis,” Karpovich said. “Russia’s stance is clear: our approach will reflect the realities on the ground. Russian forces continue to advance.”
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Based on TASS materials